You can now become a Google Street View Trekker

Google maps, Google Earth and all their related apps use Street View. Street View is ability to browse Google Maps at street view level. If you're using Google Earth - drop the little man icon and you're suddenly on eye level with the map. So surf and see pictures as they were taken live and kind of live the experience. latest Google Street View has moved to a whole new level. Instead of the street view cars - Google has packed a Trekker on a human back and gone walking with the camera equipment. Which means street view can be a accessed from difficult places and difficult terrain. All a person needs to do is to strap the equipment to their back and walk and out of the whole effort comes some amazing panoramic 360 degree views of the beautiful earth, using Google Street View Trekker.

If you would like to wear this equipment on your back and go on a trek - you can now apply for a partnership and volunteer your services. There are some places that only a few people know. Especially in some parts of the earth. If you are an expert on some place that is beautiful and remove and nice to look at. You can consider volunteering your service to Google. You can apply if you are an organization or an individual. You can also tell Google if you need some sponsorship or funding to conduct your trip. Please check out the link below and apply if this suits your fancy.

Apply to use Street View Trekker here. Image courtesy of Google. 

This is what it feels like on top of the world's tallest building

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest manmade structure in the world. Standing at a height of 2717 feet and having more than 160+ floors. The building located in Dubai and acknowledged as the tallest building in the world can offer some spectacular views from the top. If you're wondering what it feels like to stand on one of the top most floors or maybe step out onto the maintenance units. Google Street View has gone ahead and done just that to give you a view from the 124th floor and also step out off a window on the 80th floor with the maintenance unit. The guys that keep the windows clear have the job of stepping right out and getting the best possible views. The winds are also blowing a quite high speeds at that height.

In addition to being the tallest building in the world, it also has the world's fastest elevators - moving at 22 mph. So even if you're afraid of heights, these street view images from Google will give you some perspective. From up there you can see the ocean, islands and the whole lay of the land. You can check out the entire collection of the images here. Google used something called Street view Trekker and Trolley. Which is basically their recording equipment carried around like a backpack. These cameras are used when in places where a vehicle can't go.

Check out the street view collect of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai here.

Google Street View goes indoors in the US, Australia and Japan

Sarastro, London

Interested small business owners on the US, Australia and Japan can now invite Google Street View into their establishments and get great pictures taken. These images are then uploaded and used on Google Maps and Street View on maps. This will work really well especially for restaurant owners. Who will be able to get high-quality pictures of their establishments onto Google maps and people looking for a place to go to can then find them more easily. It is also being called Google's Business Street View. Currently Google is only inviting restaurants, hotels, shops, gyms and vehicle repair workshops and Big Brands are being excluded for the time being.

Google does however ask small business owners to put up signs telling their customers that the Google Street View team will be arriving to take 360-degree imagery. This is to ensure no one is surprised. There is also another reason, Google says that there will be no additions and what you see is what you get. Therefore the place needs to be as it is with no extra additions or subtractions.

To view photos collected from businesses you will need to visit Google Places. 

How do I invite Google Street View to photograph my business. 

Source: Google Blog

Check the video from Newsy below to learn more.

An original post by

Sociolatte

How to use street view in Google Earth

Google Earth has just had some good news, it has been downloaded 1 billion times and growing fast. The software that allows us to view the earth with satellite imagery stunned us when it first launched. With Street View it takes things to a whole new level. You can now traverse the earth through all it's streets. It is important to remember to get a proper street view Google Street View cameras must have first have been there. In countries and ares where the Google cameras have not yet visited, you will not have a street view. You may still have ground level views but now street views.

How to turn on street view in Google Earth

When you are visiting an area on Google Earth you will need to drag and drop the Pegman icon that appears below your navigation bar. Once you enter street view you can use your joystick or keyboard to move around. You can use the arrows on your screen to get w whole 360 degree view or change your ground view perspective. You can also toggle between street view and 3D view with ground level building. To exit street view you will need to click the exit button when done. You will need Google Earth 6 to enjoy it fully. Download Google Earth 6 now. For a complete video tutorial please check out the video below.

Also ensure that you have roads, buildings and 3D photos ticked under layers.

An original post by

Sociolatte

Google Street View Goes to the Amazon

Google's street view project has now gone to the Amazon jungles. The street view pike will be peddled down the amazon jungle trails while another camera will be mounted on a boat and photos taken as it floats down the river. It will photograph the Amazon and the Rio Negro rivers; the project is in association with the FAS (Foundation for Sustainable Amazon).


Google will also be training local villages to handle equipment with it will leave behind and also train them so that work continues even after the Google team leaves. 


The camera being are the same ones that are used to capture imagery of business interiors. This way the viewer will get a feel of what it's like to live and work in the Amazon, especially Amazonian community centers and schools. Still photos will be stretched into 360 degree panoramics. 


Google further said, 'For many outdoor enthusiasts, travelers and environmentalists, this creates an opportunity to experience the wonders of the Amazon, which will be accessible in a way they’d previously only dreamed about.'

Images Credit: Google

An original post by

Sociolatte